10 DAYS OF FUTILITY RAN UP $60,000 TAB

WASHINGTON -- Bush administration and congressional negotiators ran up a tab of nearly $60,000 for food and drink during their 10 days of futile meetings in the converted bar of the Andrews Air Force Base Officers' Club in September, Air Force records show.

The budget talks were moved from the Capitol to Andrews on Sept. 7 in an attempt to focus efforts on reaching an agreement to save as much as $500 billion from the federal deficit over five years.

In between haggling over new taxes and Medicare cuts, the bargainers dined on prime rib and Chicken Oscar, munched on M&M;'s and cookies and slurped sundaes of vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate sauce and chopped nuts. "They met, they ate, they conquered," one participant joked at the time.

What they did not work up was a budget deal. It took more meetings of a smaller group of congressional leaders and administration officials back in the Capitol to accomplish that.

An average of 321 meals were served daily at a cost of $34,000 for the 10- day summit, Air Force spokesman Col. Joe Purka said. There were an average of 73 breakfasts each day at a cost of $6.95 each, 123 lunches at $8.95 each and 125 dinners at $16.95 each.

Another $14,500 went to keeping the main meeting room -- the main Officers' Club bar -- stocked with coffee, pastries, fruit, cheese, M&M;'s and soft drinks.

In addition, it cost $2,100 to keep the separate Democratic and GOP caucus rooms in snacks.

The negotiators did not go thirsty, either. The bill for "assorted beverages" -- liquor, wine, soft drinks and drinks with dinner -- averaged $6.79 each day for each participant.